Cropping my tops - YouLookFab Forum

Hi all

I now have quite a few bottoms in my wardrobe that have the newer, wider silhouette (A line skirts, culottes, cropped wider leg jeans), and a higher rise. I am finding it increasingly frustrating that I cannot find shorter tops to go with them. Is anyone else experiencing the same issue?

Here in Australia, culottes are widely available in the shops, and I am seeing quite a few people wearing them. But the tops being offered are still largely the longer style to-go-with-skinnies type tops. Most people seem to have solved the problem by tucking but I have some problems with that:

1. I am not a keen tucker at the best of times.

2. It is getting too warm to tuck.

3. My culottes and my Monki shorts (shown in Finds) both have an elastic waist at the back so tucking in at the back is not a great look.

I don't mind semi tucking but that can be problematic with longer tops.

I am trying to put together a capsule for an upcoming holiday (yay!) and I wanted to take either my Monki shorts or a similar pair from Witchery and some A line skorts for casual wear/hiking.

So I decided to shorten the Piper top shown below. I did this myself as proof of concept. It previously sat at the top of my thigh and I shortened it to upper hip. This seems to be the sweet spot because it shows the curve of your hip and gives a hint of waist definition. I can still lift my arms without midriff showing. It does look much better with my shorts and my culottes.

Buoyed by this I am going to get a tailor to shorten the Gestuz top and Witchery top shown below, and a Zara top (not shown).

What do people think? Has anyone else done this - with regrets/no regrets? Any other ideas?

ASOS

Noisy May Wrap Front Wide Crop Pant

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Athleta

Gap Excursion Skort

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ASOS

Monki Wrap Smart Tailored Short

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ASOS

Gestuz Demi Sleeveless High Neck Blouse With Print

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8 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I realized after getting into the wider crop trend that long tops don't look good with it. I rarely do complete tucking, but have found the semi-tuck to work for those that aren't super-long. I also have been consciously keeping an eye out for shorter pieces like this green sweater (see finds) because I have noticed that my longer silk blouses are hard to deal with (so much fabric that it's too messy to tuck them in).

I tried cropping an old white denim jacket last summer and made such a disaster of it that I had to throw it away. I don't see further DIY in my future.

COS

Ribbed panel jumper

Brooklyn

Oh no Lisa! I hope the jacket wasn't a favourite. I am a bit worried about the gestuz top. The witchery top was practically free (voucher) and the Zara top was on deep discount, so they are both kind of expendable. But I do hope it works out because the holiday is imminent.
I like that green sweater a lot. It seems to be a bit easier to find cropped sweaters.

Karie

(website)

I haven't tried cropping any existing tops, but I do plan on sewing up a few in my (nonexistent) spare time. I do prefer shorter tops with wider, cropped pants. I found some nice ones at F21 recently, and I like them because they hit at that sweet spot and are not too short.

Thanks Karie. I hadn't considered F21. We do have an F21 here, so I will take a look.

Deborah

Hey Brooklyn, I'm having the same challenge. Aside from altering items I can only suggest Valley Girl and Temt. Not great quality tho but quick on the trends and I have seen shorter tops there. Have you looked at Veronica Maine?

Sal

You have inspired me - I have a couple of tops that could work a little shorter... great idea!

Hey Deborah. Good to "see" you. Thanks for the tip off. I will check out Valley Girl and Temt. Hopefully I can get there before my holiday. I haven't looked at Veronika Maine lately. I will check them out too. I tend to think of their stuff as more office wear-ish. I would like something fun and breezy.
Thanks Sally. I hope it works out for you!

Style Fan

It is challenging to keep the top and bottom on trend. I have a top I would like to shorten as well. If I don't it will end up as a wardrobe orphan. You have given me some motivation.

Maneera

Hey Brooklyn. I did the same thing for summer, since I was wearing a lot of shorts & skirts.

I got a few tops & tees cropped by the tailor. Others, I did myself. It was fairly easy. I folded to the length I wanted. Then I put spaced out stitches (by hand). I started on the seams (or the sides). And about 2-3 more in the front & back each. The top holds its shape. The end-result looks like a relaxed fold or a faux tuck. I don't tuck either. This trick worked for me for both woven and knit tops....simple tees as well as nicer blouses. I say - go for it!

unfrumped

Same problem!
Usually I buy these types of bottoms for s msin purpose of tucking since a higher waist and fuller hip/ thigh cut are my best tucking styles.
Semi- tucks are not a work look for me, so that's not an option.
Sometimes you just need to be untucked!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Go Team Hack Your Top.

Brooklyn, I have not experience at hacking tops myself, but I like the sound of what you're doing. Creative problem solving.

I've found it no problem to get shorter tops actually, and I have many of them. I wear them over just about anything because they aren't tight.

Anonymous

I think that shortening a few tops makes sense, especially if you have already done a test run. I also prefer to wear tops untucked, less fussy for me!

Thanks Manny. I like your approach because it sounds like there is no cutting involved. You can undo it if it all goes terribly wrong. Hacking comes with risks.
Unfrumped and zoiechic, exactly! A full tuck does seem a little fussy for my purposes. Fine for office wear, but this is for a beach holiday in high summer. I would like to be as loose and comfortable as possible.
Thanks for the encouragement Angie. I guess the shorter tops will arrive eventually, but I can't wait

And thanks for chiming in SF. I may start a hacking trend!

deb

Great idea. I am going to hack an old silk equipment shirt, both bottom and sleeves. In my mind I see a flowy shirt with 3/4 straight sleeves.

A sleeve hack! I hadn't thought of that Deb. I will have to ponder that some more. I definitely have some long sleeve tops that I am not getting enough wear out of.

Joy

Cropping tops sounds like a good idea, especially loose ones and done by a tailor.

Thanks Joy. They are loose and boxy. I have left them with the tailor now, so fingers crossed.

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